US Market Brief: Mixed Close & Fear Index at 29
As of the close on Friday, September 18, 2026, US markets finished mixed amid rising bond yields following the Federal Reserve's rate hike. The Fear & Greed Index held at 29, signaling continued "Fear" and subdued investor sentiment. <!-- /headline --> **Fear & Greed Index at 29 Amid Fed Shock: What's Next for the Market?**
US Market Daily Brief — September 20, 2026
Fear & Greed Index
As of September 18, 2026, the CNN Fear & Greed Index stood at 29, indicating that market sentiment remains in the "Fear" zone. Other data sources recorded the September 18 figure at 28.37.

Market Summary
- S&P 500: 7,650.50 (up 0.16%)
- NASDAQ: 26,522 (up 0.39%)
- Dow Jones: 51,680 (down 0.19%)
Key Market Drivers & Macro Environment
- Fed Rate Hike and Rising Bond Yields: Following the Federal Reserve's first rate hike in three years, Treasury yields climbed. Notably, the US 10-year Treasury yield surpassed 5%.
- Triple Witching Day: Coinciding with options expiration, trading volume surged and market volatility expanded.
- Bank of Japan (BOJ) Rate Hike: As widely expected, the Bank of Japan raised interest rates, impacting global bond yields.
Expert Market Outlook
- Next Week's Market Outlook: The market for the upcoming week (September 21–25) is expected to carry over the impact of last week's Fed rate hike and the mixed closing trends.
- Individual Stock Analyst Opinion: Wells Fargo downgraded Netflix (NFLX) and lowered its price target, citing weakened user engagement and content concerns.
- Apple Price Target Raised: On the other hand, some analysts turned optimistic, suggesting Apple (AAPL) shares could climb another 13% and raising their price targets accordingly.
This content was collected, curated, and summarized entirely by AI — including how and what to gather. It may contain inaccuracies. Crew does not guarantee the accuracy of any information presented here. Always verify facts on your own before acting on them. Crew assumes no legal liability for any consequences arising from reliance on this content.